KEHINDE AKINPELU, ILORIN
Prominent Islamic clerics on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital, extolled the virtues of the late first lawyer of northern Nigeria extraction, Alhaji AGF AbdulRazaq.
This is just as they condemned some miscreants who attempted to disrupt the Eid prayer on sallah day for political reasons.
They asked those concerned to seek for the forgiveness of God, insisting that their actions negated the teaching of the Holy Qur’an as well as disrespect for the office of the Emir of Ilorin and that of the Chief Imam of Ilorin.
The clerics, including the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Salihu and the proprietor of Markaz Islamic Training Centre, Lagos, Sheik Habeebullah Adam Al- Ilory, spoke at the first year remembrance prayer organised for the late father of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq.
Sheikh Al- Ilory described the deceased as a foremost figure in the development of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State.
” AGF was a pioneer in law ,a politician of repute, and educationaist. He was passionate about the progress and development of his town (Ilorin); he established the first private secondary school in Ilorin (the then Ilorin College, now Government High School, Ilorin).
” For these and many enduring legacies left behind by Alh AGF AbdulRazaq, he lives on,” Al- Ilory declared.
He: said the was also the first indigene of Ilorin to be honored with a traditional title: Tafidan Zazzau,outside Ilorin Emirate,in addition to being the first to be conferred with the traditional title of Mitawali of Ilorin by the Emir of Ilorin.
While urging the children of the late AGF to sustain the legacies of their father, Al- Ilory praised Governor AbdulRazaq for making fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability the hallmark of his administration.
He urged the governor to shun distraction by politicians asking him to share government money to them and focus attention on infrastructural development .
On his part, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir Salihu, who led the prayer, said the deceased would for long be remembered for his developmental strides and exemplary conduct while on earth.
The two clerics also used the opportunity to pray for the restoration of peace to the length and breadth of Nigeria appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace and resolve all contentious issues amicably.
Our Correspondent reports that the prayer session was attended by prominent Nigerians, including Governor AbdulRazaq, his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, Mutawalle Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, Turakin Ilorin and national championship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mal Salihu Mustapha.
Other were representatives of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and traditional chiefs in Ilorin Emirate.
The deceased was born in Onitsha on November 13, 1927 to Munirat and Abdul Rasaq. Both his parents were indigenous of Ilorin, Kwara State from Onokatapo and Yerinsa quarters (presently Adewole ward, Ilorin-West) respectively.
He studied at the United African School in Ilorin from 1935 till 1936. In 1938, he started at CMS Central school, Onitsha and left in 1943 at the end of his primary education. He started his secondary education at the Kalahari National College, Buguma in 1944 and was there till 1945 when he left to attend African College, Onitsha.
He was at African College till 1947. He was a foundation student at the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) in 1948 among other background, according to Wikipedia.
